A/N: Hey guys. I apologise profusely. I know it has been a while since my last post. Been finding it hard to write and to find time to write. Anyway here is the new chaoter...R&R please. Thank-you and again sorry. Much love RMloveobsessed wink
Back To Work
It had been two weeks since Ryan had taken a break from work. He had rang Garry and asked him to carry on as the deputy boss so that he could spend more time with Marissa and the gang to make her transition eaiser and help her heal in her own time. He just needed to be there for it to support her and help her and look after her (even though she would never admit it).
But now Ryan had been off for two weeks and he was getting worried about how it was all going back at work and whether he needed to be doing anything. He knew how hard a job it was. It wasn't that he didn't think Gary could cope or that he might be stuffing up...But he prefered to get back soon and know for sure that all is well and reassure the condractors and co-workers that he WAS coming back and is still the boss!
It was 6.30 am and Ryan felt a soft slender body move closer to his. He looked down and stared at Marissa. He could see the goosebumps all down her body. She must have gotten cold when Ryan had shifted away a little and the sheets had moved off her a little. Ryan chuckled to himself and then moved the sheets over her again and wrapped an arm around her body to keep her warm. He lay staring at her for another 5 minutes.
Ahhh I don't want to go back to work while you're here. He thought to himself. But I have to go sometime...and if I wanna give you everything...I NEED to go back...But its such a long time away from you. Ryan thought, playing a mental ping pong game in his head. Then he came up with an idea. Maybe I can make it so I don;t have to be there as much. I could make Gaz my partner and then the work load can be halved between us. He'd be stoked to make partner and I'd be soked to come home earlier to spend time with her. He looked back down at her and smiled. He loved her sooo much. More than words or affection could ever show. "If he's done a good job at the company these 2 weeks then that's what I'm gonna do!" He muttered to himself, finalising his thoughts. He slowly shifted Marissa from his side and picked up the phone as quietly as he could. He walked out to the patio and sat on the steps. He dialled the number and put the phone to his ear. Ring ring, ring ring, ring, ring. "Hell...hello" Came a groggy voice on the other side of the line. "Hey Gaz, It's Ryan" "Oh hi boss. How's umm Marissa going?" "Ahh yer good. I was just ringing to let you know I'll be coming back to work this morning" "Oh okay...Sure. Well I guess I'll see you their then!?" "Yeah" Ryan paused for a moment thinking of his proposition. He'd wait til they were in the office to discuss it...once he had seen how Gary had gone looking after the place while he left. "Was there somthing else...Or can I go back to sleep til I have to get ready for work" "Ahh yeah but it can wait til we gt to the office. Sorry. Well I'll see you there" "Yep. Okay" Then came the click and beep beep beep.
Ryan sat thinking for a second, when he felt someone's gaze apon him. He turned around and saw Marissa leaning against the door her arms wrapped around her, keeping her warm. It was oddly a very cold morning. "Hey what are you doing up?" Ryan said turning his body around to face her. He was about to get up when Marissa walked over and sat behind him. She whispered in his ear "You left and it got really cold and I wondered where you were" Ryan turned his head to look at hers. "I'm sorry baby. I just had to give Gaz a quick call and let him know I was coming in and I came out here coz I didn't want to wake you" "You're going back to work?" Ryan looked at her sadly. He didn't want her to get upset and was worrying she might. "Yeahhh..." He slowly started. "Well I told him I would only be gone a week but then I made it two coz I didn't want to leave you alone and I wanted to be here to help. But I wanna go in and see how Gary's going and I have to start again sometime" He half reasoned, half pleaded. "Oh..." Was all Marissa could say. She forgot that they all had jobs and they couldn't just hangout all day everyday like they used to before the accident and before the coma. She hated the thought of not spending most of her day with Ryan. They did have a lot of time to make up for and since Marissa didn't have a career or even a job she hadn't realised this day would come and was finding it hard to accept.
"Riss...I...I'm sorry. I know you don't want me to go back but it's my business and I need to make sure it's running okay and I need to be earning my income. Trust me if I had it my way I'd never lave you're side...But I have to..." He sat looking at his lap for a moment thinking of how much his must be hurting her and how much he didn't want to do this. "Maybe...maybe when you're a bit better and are feeling up to it you can come in with me. Maybe you can arm the phones and Reception area until Kathy can start working for us..." He looked up but Marissa had turned away as if she was about to get up. Ryan grabbed heer hand so she couldn't go anywhere and forced her to look at him. "That's only if you want to...That way we could still see each other..." Ryan stared intently trying to send messages to her with his eyes and convey how much he hated this too. "Though I think it might be realllly hard to stay away and actually work when I know you would be sitting out there" He laughed softly, trying to ease the tension. He saw a small smile appar on her face...but it didn't last long. She was quiet for ages and Ryan was worrying what she was thinking. "Well I guess I better stay away from you then shouldn't !?" She said a little more harshly then what she meant to. But she lifted her self off the step awkwardly but as quick as she could. Ryan tried to call her before she stormed off. "Riss...wait...please" But she had already stormed off into the poolhouse, slamming the door behind her. Ryan sighed. He knew it would be hard...But did she have to act like he WANTED to go, WANTED to leave her alone.
He slowly walked over to the poolhouse entrance and paused at the door. Should he knock or just go in!? After a moment he decided to just enter. Marissa was hurriedly getting changed and gathering her things. "Riss please...Can we just talk!?" Ryan pleaded again. "About what? You have to go to work. I have to just sit around my house all day and do nothing, see no..." Marissa felt a sharp jab in her side and she sank to the floor and rest against one of the chairs closest to her. "Riss!" Ryan ran over to her. "What is it? Riss what's wrong?" He anxiously asked. "Nothing. I'm fine. Not that you care. You're supposed to be getting ready for work" She said snidely. "I don't WANT to go to work. I HAVE to. It's my business and I have to keep it running. I've already had enough time off as it is and I told you if I COULD have it any other way then I'd be with you. It's not my fault so stop blaming me!" Ryan roughly told her. "Please!" He finished a little more softly. "Now what's wrong? What's hurting?" Marissa was still a little shocked about Ryan's agressiveness to tell her how it really was. After a while longer and off Ryan's gaze sinking into her Marissa replied "It's okay. I just hurt my side. I'm fine now" She paused for a split second and continued "I'm sorry Ryan. I told myself I wouldn't be a brat and I wasn't going to let us fight and we'd talk. I'm sorry. I'm not doing a very good job" "It's okay. You just have to realise Riss that it's not me that wants to go do this but I have a responsibilty now. It's my business and it's just the way it has to be...for now" Marissa nodded in acceptance and then froze "...For now?" She quired. "Yeah. I'm going to go in and if everything is okay and up-to-date and Garry;s done a god job then I will make him my partner. That way my work will be halved and the responsibility...and I can see you a little more then I would otherwise" He paused for a moment thinking it over and knowing now it was the right decision. "...which is what I was going to say before if you had given me a chance"
Marissa could now see that Ryan had thought of her and what he had thought of to try and keep everyone happy.They sat there quietly for what seemed like ages. "I'm sorry" Marissa finished quietly. at almost a whisper. Ryan lent down and kissed her on her forehead. She smiled. Even thought she gave him shit he still was with her and loved her like crazy. She felt the like the happiest, luckiest person in the world at that moment. "How about we get you back in bed. And I still don't have to get ready for another hour so I'll keep you warm" He quickly smiled down at her. "That sounds...perfect" Soon they were back in the bed, Marissa had taken a couple of her pain killers for her side and Ryan was half sitting half laying on the bed, Marissa tucked into his side sleeping peacefully.
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Soon Ryan had woken, had a shower and gotten dressed. Marissa was still sleeping peacefully. He walked over quietly and pulled the falling cover back over her body and kissed her forehead. Then he walked over to the counter scribbled a quick note and left it on his pillow for her for when she woke up.
When he got to work everyone was greeting him, welcoming him back to work and all making a comment about Marissa waking up or asking how she was going. Ryan quickly shook their hands, shrugged them off and thanked them for their concern. He was eager to talk to Gary about his job proposal. Before anyone else could walk up and begin another conversation with him he hurried into his office and closed the door. He looked around at his office. He had been gone 2 weeks and it looked like nothing had changed. It was an odd feeling for Ryan. It felt strangely comforting to be back in his office but something in the back of his mind was saying something was wrong. He shook it off and walked over to his chair. But not long after sitting down his mind began wondering to thoughts of Marissa. Was she up yet? What was she doing right now? Is she okay or does she need him?
Just then there was a small knock and Ryan looked up to see Gary pop his head in. "Next time you call it better not be at 6.30am and it better not wake our baby up. My wife almost killed me" "Oh yeah sorry about that. I couldn't sleep and I didn't want you in my office when I came back" Ryan joked. "So what's up?" "Come in and sit down for a minute Gaz" Gary stopped and looked worry but e walked in, closed the dor behind him and sat across from Mr. Atwood. "Should I be worried!?" Garry finally joked nervously but at the same time really wanted to know the anwser of that question. "Why? Have you done something I should know about?" Ryan joked "No no. I was just wondering how things have been going..." "Oh right. Ummm yer pretty good actually. We have got a new project. A company wants us to build a new shopping complex in the next town over. The hospital is just about done. The contractors said they will be done by the coming Wednesday next week and the Hospital said to say they want you there at noon the next day. They want you to do the honours of cutting the ribbon and officially initialising the opening of the ward" Garry beamed. "Ahh good good. Remind me later to call them and thank them. How about all our other projects?" "Well umm lets see three of the Mansions we were working on have just been completed as off yesterday and two more should be done by the end of next week. The lower income housings are half way complete and are lookng just how you wanted them. Now there was only one problem with one of the mansions we were building. One of the contractors was new and they left him unsupervised and he took out to much of one of the walls and instead of telling me they just left the job and didn't return. I rang them and told them to get there act together and that if they wanted the big bucks and to work with the biggest Architecturer in the whole of the country then they better pull there finger out next time. Anyway I got some contractors from another company and payed them a little tiny bit extra to fix the wall so they are half way fixing that problem and should be done by the end of the month if things go well. Poor lad from the other company though. I think they fired the poor boy" Gaz chuckled to himself. Ryan didn't like that they fired him when it was their fault for not supervising him like they were supposed to. He made a mental note to call that company and re-hire him. Ryan remembered how hard it was for him when he first started doing some contracting with his uncle.
"Yes well I'll be talking to them about that. Anyway so things went pretty smoothly then?" "Yeah. Other than that little mishap all was good!" "And how did you find it?" "Umm yeah it was a good experience. I can see how you can get so stressed out at times now. But it was good. I enjoyed it" "Well in that case...How would you like a promotion?" "A ...a promotion!?...You kidding me!?...I'd do anything!!!" Ryan laughed "Anything hey!?" "Well almost anything" Garry said coming to his senses. "Well how about if I make you my partner you let me off for a couple more weeks?" Ryan asked seriously. "Wow...Ry ...mate...I thought you was gone make me you're official deputy...not you're actual partner" "Well I could leave you there..." Garry looked in horred shock. "But I figure after the last couple weeks and the executive decision you made with those contractors...well you deserve it and I could really do with a little more time off.I don't think Riss is quite ready to let me go back to work" He smiled. "Ahh so you're just using me to get more time off hey" They both laughed. "Yep...And coz it will have my work load and since you seem to enjoy the job and you'll be getting more I think you're wife will be much happier...so I doing you a favour too see" "Ido and it definitly going to make her happier" He smiled.
"Well since you've already handled the job I am going to talk to our Brianna our payroll lady to change you're pay as off tomorrow and you can start tomorrow. You think you can handle that?" "Sure. So will you be in this week or will you take that time off now?" "umm. Since there's only a few days left of this week I think I'll stay and just keep an eye on things for this week. Then I'll leave it all for you big guy" Garry stood up and held his hand out to Ryan. "Great. Thanks a lot. Well I'll be out of the office for most of today. Think I mightgo check up on some of the contractors and see how everything is going" "Well give us an hour or so and I'll come with you. I was actually going to do the same anyway so it will save me the trip" "oh okay. Well ring my office when you're ready to go" "Okay. See you soon" And with that Gary took off to his office. Ryan closed the door again and flipped through his address book to find the contractors who had been working on the house they had abondoned.
He found it and began to ring the number. "Hello JK Contractors Louise speaking" "Oh hi Louise, It's Ryan Atwood here. I'd like to speak to the main suprevisor who was working on my one of my mansions" "Oh okay. Was that the one on the north or south side of town?" "Ummm I beleive it was the north side mansion" "Okay one moment please" "Hello Geoffrey speaking" Came a deep voice moments later. "Hi Geoff It's Ryan Atwood here" "Ohhh umm Mr. Atwood" "I was wondering if you could tell me how one of my clients mansions walls was cut out wrong? A trainee contractor I am told? Why was no-one supervising the boy?" "Oh yes about that. I apologise. The boy told us he had done it before so we thought it was safe to leave him by his own..." "As a professional company you should know better than to go by one's word and you should also to know to call the company you are working under when something goes wrong. Not just abondon the job like I am told, by my deputy, that you have done" "Umm we apologise. We really don't have an answer for why we did that. We really do apologise Mr. Atwood. It was very unprofessional" "Yes it was. Now have I been informed correctly that you have fired the young man who was training with you?" "Ahh yes. He was a nusence and wasn't right for this trade" "Well Geoff in all fairness it was partly you're teams fault. Do not just blame him. Now you have a decision to make re-hire this young man, by the end of today, or I will personally hire him. And as for you're company's future, I'm a nice guy and since I am in a fairly good mood I will give you another chance. But one more mistake and you will no longer be able to work under company. And as my deputy has told you, if you no longer work with us no other company will take you so i ask you to please think about what you are doing and do the right thing" Ryan told him simple, clamly thought he made sure to appear tough about what he was saying. Making him know he means business. "Yes Mr. Atwood. Again we apologise profusely and we appreciate this chance. I will make sure my boys do everything by the book this time" "Good. Now that we have an understanding, enjoy you're rest of you're day and you will here from us again when we have a job for you. See you later" "Yep. Thanks Mr. Atwood"
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Ryan hung up the phone and sat for a minute. Geez contractors could be such a fuss. Then he remembered he had to see Brianne before him and Gaz could go check out their sites. He walked oout of his office and over to where Brianne's office was. He knocked on the door and pushed it open. "Hey Brianne. How are you today?" "Oh just fine Mr. Atwood. How is Miss Cooper doing now?" "She's getting there. But I think I still need to be around for a bit longer until she can cope on her own more" "Then what are you doing here?" Brianne laughed softly. "Well I had to see how my company is going didn't I. But after this week I will take a couple more weeks off...I promise" He paused and thought of what Marissa yet again. "Actually that's kinda why I'm here" "Yes" "Well...I've just made Garry my partner so I was wondering if you could bump his pay up to where it now should be. I let him know it wouldn't start until tomorrow so you can do it today or sometime tomorrow. Wheneer suits you okay!?" "Oh ok. Yeah sure. I'll do it just before I go home tonight" She said scribbling a reminder to herself about it and sticking it up to hang down from the shelves above her head. "Great. Thanks a lot" Ryan replied. "so how have things been in here while i've been away?" "Oh same as always. You know how it is. What about you? Bet you're enjoying having Miss Cooper back...and spoiling her no doubt" "Ahh I can't explain it hey. It's the best to have her back and to look after her and i not spoling her...just making up for the 3 years I haven't been able to spend anything on her or do anything with her. But we are trying to not go out to much. But it awsome" "Oh that's good. Yeah it can be very tiring doing to much when you've just come out of hospital. And she probably get's really sore!?" "Yeah she does. But she getting in less pain and getting better slowly. Which is a good sign" Ryan paused thinking of how far she had come in such a short time. "Anyway I best be off. Gaz and I will be out checking on our current projects if anyone calls...if it's Riss just tell her to call my mobile" "Sure Mr. Atwood. No problem" "Thanks. See you later Bree"
Soon he found Garry and they were off in the company car.